Monday, September 30, 2013

Shutter To Think: The Rock and Roll Lens of Paul Natkin has moved to the Chicago Cultural Center after being created and featured for an extended time at the Elmhurst Historical Museum. The exhibit showcases the best-known photographs taken by Natkin over several years of working concerts and various rock music events. Lance Tawzer is the curator/designer, and veteran Chicago journalist Dave Hoekstra wrote informative copy to go along with photos.

Shutter reaches back to Natkin’s early days as a sports photographer who loved Chicago Bulls games, and in a videotaped interview, Natkin describes how his first music photos came about when he bluffed his way into a Bonnie Raitt concert. Those inaugural shots indicate a natural ability for capturing the essence of a performer. Through extensive research and aggressive networking, he was soon selling his work to Rolling Stone, Creem, Hit Parader, and other rock publications. His cover photograph of Bruce Springsteen on Newsweek did wonders for the careers of the photographer and musician.

Some of the more eye-catching shots displayed in the Garland Gallery at the Chicago Cultural Center include The Rolling Stones standing together at the end of a concert; Ozzy Osbourne hoisting guitarist Randy Rhoads; saxophone player Clarence Clemons looming over a crouching Bruce Springsteen; Pete Townshend caught in mid-leap, and Prince celebrating at a birthday party where Natkin was the only photographer allowed to attend. Some of these reprints could take up a wall in an average apartment, while several others, such as shots of Iggy Pop with Joey Ramone; Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen with Smashing Pumpkins front man Billy Corgan; Al Green; The Bangles; and Brian Setzer, are a more manageable size.

Shutter To Think not only honors Paul Natkin as a photographer, it allows visitors to gain insight into his work ethic and views on the the current concert scene. The exhibit is open now through January 4th, 2014. There will be a reception open to the public from 5:30 to 7:30 on October 25th. Admission is free.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Sci-fi aficionado and Chris Hardwicke gal pal Chloe Dykstra has a new show on The Nerdist Channel called Fortplay. Dyskstra has been funny and engaging commenting on Doctor Who and covering Cosplay (people who dress up in costumes at comic-con events) for The Nerdist, so it should be interesting to see what transpires on Fortplay.

So far, she and co-hosts Whitney Moore and Michelle Morrow have done features on the Takedown Red Sabre game, and conducted a lengthy interview with Xbox bigwig Major Nelson. Not being a gamer, I felt a little out of the loop, but was still able to enjoy the segments. Hopefully, Fortplay will cover a variety of pop culture topics on future shows.

There’s good news in the current issue of Skyline, a weekly free paper that’s distributed throughout the downtown and near north side of Chicago. Those of us who missed our chance to see the Shutter To Think: The Rock And Roll Lens of Paul Natkin photo exhibit during its run at the Elmhurst Historical Museum have been given a reprieve. This spotlight on Natkin’s career as a photographer for RollingStone, Hit Parader, Newsweek, Time, and numerous other publications has resurfaced at the Cultural Center in downtown Chicago. He may be best known for his shots of Bruce Springsteen, but Natkin also captured The Rolling Stones, Eddie Vedder, and Johnny Cash, along with other musical legends. The exhibit will run in the Garland Gallery on the first floor of the Chicago Cultural Center through January, 4th of next year. Admission is free.

Chances are The Melismatics will be playing songs from their new Rising Tide CD when they come to Reggie’s on south State Street in Chicago on October 26th. I’m hoping to post a review of Rising Tide within the next week.

Now that I’ve finished reading Greg Kihn’s Rubber Soul novel (see Wednesday’s post) I can move on to Boys Don’t Lie: A History Of Shoes, the biography of the power pop band written by Mary E. Donnelly with Moira McCormick. I’ll post a review sometime before the authors come to Chicago for an appearance at The Book Cellar on Lincoln Avenue on October 19th.

Graham Nash’s solo tour, An Evening With Graham Nash, has been drawing some interesting guests. Jackson Browne joined Nash on stage at the City Winery in New York, and Kinks guitarist Dave Davies dropped by for a visit after another gig. Meanwhile, Nash has been picking up publicity for his new autobiography Wild Tales: A Rock And Roll Life; doing interviews on The PBS NewsHour and CBS This Morning.

Congratulations to barber/stylist Amy Peterson on her new enterprise in downtown Palatine. She’s now the proprietor of the On Track Hair Station; taking over for Colleen Farmer, who recently retired after 23 years of running the shop. Peterson, who has two decades of specializing in haircutting, is already putting her own stamp on the railway-theme decor, and has picked up a number of Farmer’s clients to join her own loyal following.

Fans of The Monkees can help get the band inducted into America’s Pop Music Hall Of Fame by casting their votes via an online survey. Some of the other nominees include The Everly Brothers, Carole King, The Four Seasons, Simon and Garfunkel, The Supremes, Chicago, Three Dog Night, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Dean Martin, and Tony Bennett. Non-U.S.A. artists The Bee Gees and Elton John are also on the list. Participants can choose as many as 10, and the Top 10 vote-getters will be inducted in 2014.

The Handcuffs, Tomorrow The Moon, and I Lost Control will be performing next Friday night, October 4th, at Live in Evanston. The show starts at 9:30 PM.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Having never been the parent of a toddler, I can only guess that the main benefit of rock musicians recording children’s music is that Mom and Dad can listen without wanting to blow their brains out. I’ve been to a few Ralph’s World concerts at the Palatine Street Fests and while I didn’t do the Marching Ants dance, I could appreciate the way Ralph Covert from The Bad Examples mixes clever and positive messages with power pop arrangements. They Might Be Giants, Jason Ringenberg from Jason And The Scorchers, and Dan Zanes from The Del Fuegos have also created modern rock for knee-high people.

It’s been a while since The Twigs, a popular indie rock band on the Chicago club scene in the mid-1990s, released a full-length effort. Founding members Laura and Linda Good now live in different states, and until recently, only got together professionally for the occasional live gig. Jump Right In, a CD of kids music wouldn’t have been their fans’ first choice for a reunion, but with some singing and writing assistance from Laura’s daughter, Alena Touve, The Twigs have created a fun, well-crafted collection of music on that won’t drive adults crazy.

In fact, almost half of these songs would easily fit in with what the current crop of indie rock artists are recording these days. “Panda Bear,” which might stick in your head until the next millennium, and the lullabye “Pretty Ponies” are among the songs strictly for kids, but they’re augmented with the Good sisters’ gorgeous harmonies. The standard “Frere Jacques” is given an ambitious vocal arrangement that sounds like angels singing a round, and the silly “Blueberry Jam” is a finger-snapping, bluesy romp.

Jump Right In opens with “I Got A Great Idea,” a breezy Americana tune featuring Nate Leath on violin, and the title track describes a trip to the beach using a Beach Boys meet new wave music arrangement. The mid-tempo “Sunshine” celebrates mutual love and support, while the optimistic “Baby, Don’t Cry” offers sentiments like, “It’s all right to be sad for a while, but I’m here now” to an infectious, shuffling beat.

Despite pursuing a completely different type of music this time out, Laura and Linda Good were still able to play to their strengths, and that bodes well for any future plans they may have for recording together.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Singer-guitarist Greg Kihn is best known for hits like “Jeopardy” and “The Break Up Song” back in the 1980s. He was a radio personality for years in San Jose, and has also written four novels. For his latest effort, Rubber Soul, Kihn creates a fictional Liverpool teenager named Bobby Dingle, and drops him into the earliest days of The Beatles’ musical development.

Dingle works at his father’s shop at a flea market and uses his connections with Merchant Marines to buy the latest R&B singles from the United States. The records are a hot commodity among the Liverpool teens, so it’s not surprising when a young John Lennon and Stu Sutcliffe wander past, and are awestruck by Dingle’s selection. His ability to acquire American R&B music makes him invaluable to Lennon, who’s always looking for new material that his band can cover. A lasting friendship develops, giving Dingle a bird’s eye view of The Beatles’ rise to fame. He becomes a sort of Fab Four Forrest Gump, inspiring the lads with his records, suggestions, and occasional inadvertent comments. Kihn also lets us see America through a Liverpudlian’s eyes, as Dingle moves to Baltimore, marries a beatnik girl named Cricket, and builds a successful business.

As Rubber Soul progresses, Dingle hangs out with The Beatles during their reckless days of performing at Hamburg’s seedy night club, The Kaiserkeller; witnesses their debut on The Ed Sullivan Show in person; and eventually opens a boutique in swinging London. He becomes an essential member of their tour, and in the tense final chapter, it falls to Dingle to save them from certain death.

It’s fun to see vibrant characters like Clovis, a hard-bitten but talented American musician, and Preston Washington, the owner of an East Baltimore record store called The Hi-Dee-Ho-Soul Shack, interacting with The Beatles. Kihn nails various accents and personalities, particularly with John Lennon and George Harrison. Perhaps it’s inevitable that Dingle is less compelling by comparison, but his dialogue occasionally sounds stilted and he can come across as a stick-in-the-mud. He seems particularly uptight when Lennon plays pranks on him in the early days of their friendship. Plus, Dingle’s determination to help his half-brother Clive, an escaped convict and dim-witted thug suspected of having caused Sutcliffe’s death, seems a bit of stretch.

Overall though, Rubber Soul is a fun, quick-paced tale, and Kihn has obviously done his research on Beatles history. He makes us believe a young Liverpool shop worker could not only be swept up in Beatlemania, but put his own stamp on it.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

It’s easy to see why Little Steven Van Zandt is such an avid supporter of Palmyra Delran on his Underground Garage radio program. Like him, Delran seems to have equal measures of affection for 1960s garage rock and modern cutting-edge music. She’s been blending the two since her days with the New York-based band The Friggs back in the 1990s. Her second solo effort, You Are What You Absorb brims with twanging guitars, elaborate melodies, and a biting sense of humor.

This is the same songwriter who chastised a whiney acquaintance for not following through on a suicide threat with “I Thought You Said That You Were Gonna Kill Yourself” on The Friggs’ debut, Rock Candy. Delran offers more tough love on this effort. “Shut Out” scolds a woman for making a fool of herself in a dead-end relationship, while “Lies For You” concerns a guy who’s clueless about his girlfriend’s deceitful ways. With “The Turtle,” Delran creates a motionless dance for mopes who prefer to just stand around while a band is playing.

There’s an old-fashioned innocence on the wistful “Shy Boy” and on “Some Day Soon,” where Delran waits impatiently for her beau to kiss her. The songs throughout You Are What You Absorb mimic classic 1960s arrangements, whether it’s the garage rock of “You’re My Brian Jones” or The Beatles’ Revolver era feel of “Never To Be Back Again.”

Monday, September 23, 2013

Formed by vocalists-guitarists Jeff Janulis and Mike Cohen, The Abbeys are veterans of the Chicago music scene, and have played every International Pop Overthrow since the festival started coming here in 2001. Listening to their amazing harmonies and ringing guitars the Red Line Tap this past April, it was evident how much Janulis and Cohen have meshed as performers. They also have a side project called The Everly Hillbillies that has been picking up steam lately.

The Abbeys’ new Please File Under: “Twang” EP doesn’t have the harder-edged power pop sound I remember hearing at the IPO-Chicago gig, but it’s a relentlessly catchy and fun effort nonetheless. Five of the six tracks were composed by Cohen, who has an admirable knack for wrapping clever lyrics within infectious arrangements. “Nobody Moves,” a slap at the narrow-minded crowds performers occasionally encounter in rock clubs, gallops to a rockabilly beat reminiscent of The Elvis Brothers. In fact, it was Graham Elvis who suggested Cohen team up with Janulis several years ago.

Cohen also slings a few barbs at C&W themed amusement parks on “Johnny Cash Station,” which has more of a southern rock feel, while the touching love song, “Say Them With Me” has Everly Brothers style vocals and takes a homespun Americana approach. “Alone In My Room” references Brian Wilson’s gift for spinning gold from his solitude, and The Abbeys close with an elaborate take on “Little Submarine,” which was originally done by The Webstirs.

Friday, September 20, 2013

It’s okay. He only wants to request “Eternal Flame.” Photo from the Susanna Hoffs Facebook page.

I posted a mini Slumgullion earlier today just in case I had to work late again tonight. But I got out at a decent hour, so here are some more nuggets from the entertainment world. It’s been a busy week, which resulted in my not posting here Monday through Wednesday. But at least I submitted CD reviews to the Illinois Entertainer for Richard X. Heyman, Las Kellies, Clara May, and Ryan Powers And The Secret Weapons. I liked all of them. Hopefully, they’ll be in the October or November issue.

Hard-edged power pop trio The Viaducts, led by vocalist-guitarist Jimmy Rane, are performing tomorrow night (September 21st) at the Elbo Room in Chicago.

Bring your coconuts. Night Blue Performing Arts Company is currently performing Monty Python’s Spamalot at Stage 773 in Chicago through October 6th.

You’re an introverted man, Charlie Brown. RedEye, a free daily newspaper in Chicago, has a regular feature that spotlights fun and unusual sites on Tumblr. This Charming Charlie sets Morrissey-penned lyrics from his solo music and with The Smiths to Peanuts comic strips. Somehow, the combined angst usually is pretty funny.

Tatoo You. Verbal Tonic, an organization dedicated to giving urban individuals an opportunity to creatively express themselves, is staging an evening of spoken word, poetry, music and art at Mars Hill Tatooo from 7:30 to 10:30 PM on Friday, October 11th. Ebonee Oliver will be the featured artist, and guests can participate in an open mic. Mars Hill Tatoo is located at 6956 N. Clark Street.

Susanna Hoffs got some help from actress Rosanna Arquette on her new video for “Raining.” It’s an emotional song from Hoffs’ Someday solo release, matched to some emotional footage, but it does look like the two women had fun filming it. In other Hoffs news, her Facebook profile shows the cover for Under The Covers Vol. 3, her latest collection of copy songs with Matthew Sweet. This time out, the duo is focusing on the 1980s.

The Jokes4Miles crew, led by comedian/writer Len Austrevich, will be offering a sneak preview of the sketches they’ve been working on prior to the official uploading. The event takes place October 12th at J4M HQ at 3660 W. Irving Park Road in Chicago, and is a collaboration with friends and filmmakers from DePaul, Tribeca Flashpoint and others. Admission is free, BYOB, and there will be free snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. This will also be an opportunity to find out more about Comedy Well Done, a new channel offering animation, short clips, and vintage footage.

We like things broken around here. James Moeller, a performer with Black Forest Theater, as well as a musician with whitewolfsonicprincess and The Telepaths, has yet another iron in the fire with his new Broken TV project. He has an EP available for pay what you want download on Bandcamp.

Over The Rhine, led by Karin Bergquist and Linford Detweiler, will be playing its engaging country/alt rock music tonight at the Park West in Chicago. The Cincinnati-based band’s new double CD, Meet Me At The Edge Of The World, is now available. The Milk Cartons are also on the bill.

There’s a triple bill at Mayne Stage on Chicago’s north side tonight that features Luck Of Eden Hall; Bedfellows; and The Ladies And Gentlemen, featuring Skid Marks. The show starts at 8:00 PM, with the low admission price of just $13.

Vocalist-bassist Ron Flynt, a founding member of the late 1970s through early 1980s power pop band 20/20, has the 9:00 PM slot tonight at International Pop Overthrow in Austin. Other acts scheduled to perform this weekend at the Parish Underground club include Walter Clevenger and Dave Rave.

Singer-guitarist Phil Angotti will be returning to his roots when he takes part in a reunion of The Idea at the Lincoln Tap Room tomorrow night. It will be the first time the power pop band has performed together in 12 years and will include all the original members, plus some special guests. The show starts at 8:00 PM. and admission is free.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

You’re Not Gonna Get It: 1978 - ‘81 makes a strong case for recognizing the essential role Epicycle played during the nascent days of the Chicago punk/indie pop scene. The recently released CD includes the quartet’s self-released three singles and LP, plus some demos. As critic Todd Killman points out in the extensive liner notes, (taken from his Victim Of Time blog) these guys formed a record company to sell their music—and a few other local bands’ music—at a time when that sort of initiative was extremely rare. And they were teenagers when they did it.

Epicycle pursued a few different styles during the three years chronicled here. “Standing On The Corner,” from 1978, has a raw punk sound, and the band was still taunting mainstream society with the defiant “Hardcore Punk” and “Radical Attitude” in 1981. “You’re Not Gonna Get It” and “Life Is A Breeze” mimic the revved-up arrangements of The Ramones.

In addition to combating racism and intolerance, Epicycle also satirized self-absorbed hipsters via the guitar-driven garage rock of “The Stare.” The melodic pop of “”High School Junkie” is ironic considering the song’s troubling lyrics, while the 1960s flavored “Biological Reaction” sounds a bit like Paisley Underground masters, The Three O’Clock.

You’re Not Gonna Get It: 1978 - ‘81 not only provides a much-needed perspective on Epicycle, it’s a treat for those who still fondly remember the vital music at that point in Chicago’s culture. One of the band’s founder’s Ellis Clark, has continued to make music with other bands over the years, and recently released the solo project, LP Number 1.

Friday, September 13, 2013

Love Their Way. Punk/New Wave veterans The Psychedelic Furs will be performing tomorrow night at House Of Blues in Chicago, with The Technicolors.

On yesterday’s BHT post, I mentioned Graham Nash’s new book, Wild Tales, as well as his upcoming tour, An Evening With Graham Nash. There’s an interesting interview with him on the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame site, where he talks about his inspiration for writing songs, the need to be politically aware in music; the days when The Hollies toured with The Rolling Stones, and the special kick he got when The Hollies were finally inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

Singer-guitarist Gerry O’Keefe will be performing songs from his latest release, Whatever Suits You, as well as some tunes from his days with the power pop band The Hideouts, at Buzz Cafe in Oak Park from 6:30 to 8:30 PM tomorrow night. He’ll be joined by singer-guitarist Johnny L., a member of The Slugs as well as a former member of The Hideouts. The two will perform individually and as a duo.

The Factory Theater is presenting The Night Of The Factory Jams on Monday, September 23rd at The Abbey Pub. A $10 admission will get you in to see music by Timothy C. Amos, Jason Moody, Chuck and Sara, Cain Mutiny, and Phil Angotti. There’s no mention of this being a fundraiser for Factory Theater, but I’m guessing that’s the case.

The Calvin Lewis Bobby Mayfair Show[s], a short film written and co-directed (with Steve Avery) by Second City alum, TV host, and comedian Will Clinger, will be screened tomorrow night at Miska’s Lounge And Bar as part of The Chicago International Reel Shorts Festival.

The Coolest Musical In The World. As noted in writer Johnny Oleksinski’s piece in yesterday’s Chicago Tribune, Broadway In Chicago is bringing the The Rascals Once Upon A Dream musical to Chicago. Written, directed, and produced by musician/actor Little Steven Van Zandt, the musical features 30 songs, including “Lonely Too Long,” Good Lovin,” “It’s A Beautiful Morning,” “I Aint Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore,” “Groovin,” and “How Can I Be Sure.” Van Zandt is also the host of the syndicated Underground Garage radio program, where he claims to play (and I agree) the coolest songs in the world.

The critically acclaimed alt rock/Americana band Over The Rhine, led by Karin Bergquist and Linford Detweiller, will be in town next Friday for a show at the Park West.

Singer-guitarist Ellis Clark plans to videotape and multi-track record the official release show for his new solo effort, LP Number One at Mayne Stage on October 5th. Special guests include Phil Angotti, who recently released his latest CD, Life And Rhymes, and saxophone player Mars Williams, who has played with The Psychedelic Furs and other well-known acts.

When I reviewed Clark’s LP Number Onehere on BHT (see July 17th post) I praised his willingness to explore new territory, such as the gospel-influenced “God In The 1980s” and the techno-oriented “Half Glass Full.” His October 5th gig will be part of a CAUDog Records showcase that includes Goodbye Home’s release party for its new Electric Cowboy Lullabies, and a performance by rockabilly duo Amazing Heeby Jeebies.

Coffee’s On. The weekly Internet show Sunday Morning Coffee With Jeff kicked off its sixth season last Sunday. Host/producer Jeff Kelley is back with his offbeat commentary, and has created some fun graphics to go with a new batch of regular features. Longtime contributor Willy Deal resumed his search for live entertainment in his On The Road segment and once again found local copy band Goin’ South. One of my favorite things over the past few years has been Jeff’s Dance Party, a mashup of an obscure garage rock song from the 1960s and an even older film of people dancing. Sometimes the juxtaposition is hilarious, and it’s always fun. Kelley wants to add some spice to the segment by having people send in videos of themselves introducing it. Just a quick, “And now here’s Jeff’s Dance Party,” kind of like the promo spots they run on PBS. Anyone interested can contact Kelley at www.coffeewithjeff@gmail.com.

I wrote and performed over 40 bits for the second through fourth seasons of Coffee (21 for Manchester Gallery alone) but after my camera person/editor moved on to better things, I’ve been struggling to contribute. Kelley, Deal, and I have kicked around some skit ideas, so hopefully we'll have something brewing soon. If not, I may monopolize the Jeff’s Dance Party intros.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Looking back on the number of years I’ve been interviewing performers, my favorite moment came during a telephone conversation with Graham Nash. I was writing a feature on him for the Illinois Entertainer, and mentioned that he seemed equally comfortable writing a heartfelt love ballad or a protest song about the mistreatment of whales. Nash then described how the inspiration for “To The Last Whale” came to him while he and David Crosby were sailing on Crosby’s boat, and one of the magnificent beasts came to the surface nearby. My interview with Nash was only a half hour long; I felt like I could listen to his tales for hours.

Next week, Nash will be sharing a great deal of his perspective on protest music, the British Invasion, the Woodstock generation, and the various women he’s fallen in love with over the years. He’ll be discussing his new autobiography, Wild Tales: A Rock And Roll Life (currently available for pre-order on his website and Amazon) with author Bob Spitz on Monday, September 16th at the Library Of Congress in Washington, D.C. A book signing session will follow afterward.

I’d like to think Nash will be promoting his book in Chicago and other cities, but he might have trouble finding enough time. He’s also embarking on a solo tour titled An Evening With Graham Nash that will visit various cities on the East and West Coasts. Some dates have already sold out. Then there are the Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young gigs at the 27th Annual Bridge School Concerts at Shoreline Auditorium in Mountain View, CA on October 26th and 27th. And if that isn’t enough to please Graham Nash fans, there will be a new Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young live box set coming out in early 2014.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Chicago Has Some Nerves! As mentioned in last Friday’s Slumgullion here on BHT, singer-guitarist Peter Case from the legendary punk/power pop trio The Nerves has a solo gig at FitzGerald’s in suburban Berwyn this Thursday night. Now comes word via Facebook (thanks, Martha Westbrook) that another former Nerve, Paul Collins, will be performing at The Ultra Lounge on north Milwaukee Avenue tonight. Collins also led The Paul Collins Beat and released the very impressive King Of Power Pop CD a while back. Case and Collins tried a joint tour not too long ago, but things didn’t work out. So seeing Case and Collins within two days of each other might have to suffice for Nerves fans.

A Brentifit Album. A number of Los Angeles and Chicago musicians have put together a digital album to help Brent Puls put a serious dent in the medical bills he’s currently faced with due to his recent treatment for a longtime stomach ailment. Puls is now based in L.A., but he’s well known in Chicago for his work with the popular funk rock club band, Bumpus. Singer Rachael Yamagata and other former members of Bumpus have contributed tracks, along with Joe Pug, Birdy On The Moon (with Wilco’s Pat Sansone), JC Brooks and The Uptown Sound, Tom Schraeder, and Rivals Of The Peacemaker. The suggested price for the 19-track digital album is $10, but contributors are definitely welcome to pay more.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Singer-songwriter Beki Hemingway has been on the music scene for a while now. She worked with singer-guitarist Jonathan Rundman on a few of his CDs, and contributed to the Big Fish Little Fish - Emerging Women In Chicago Music compilation. Hemingway has since moved to Colorado, where she and husband, guitarist-producer Randy Kerkman, recorded I Have Big Plans For The World, with co-producer-guitarist Scott Smith and a handful of guest musicians.

Hemingway and Kerkman make a potent team on this six-song blend of power pop and Americana music. Kerkman and Smith play twangy guitars on the catchy “Lose My Mind,” as Hemingway sings, “It’s my turn now to lose my mind” like it’s something she’s been aching to do for a while. Jonathan Rundman plays organ on “Last Wish,” complementing Hemingway’s soulful vocals on a poignant tale of a housewife who has sacrificed her dreams in order to raise a family. Hemingway fills this EP with big, heartfelt vocals that recall Sheryl Crow and Vicki Peterson’s work with The Continental Drifters. She rocks out on “Northbound Traffic” and “Lay It Down,” but also connects on the touching acoustic ballad, “Finnieston.”

Friday, September 6, 2013

One of Chicago’s more highly regarded street fests, The Hideout Block Party And A.V. Fest, got underway tonight with performances by Neko Case, whose new The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, I More I Love You CD is already racking up rave reviews, and soul icon Mavis Staples, who also has an impressive new effort in One True Vine. Presented by The Hideout rock club, along with The Onion newspaper, the festival continues tomorrow with Aimee Mann and Ted Leo performing under the moniker, The Both. Other acts on tomorrow’s schedule include The Hold Steady, Superchunk, Jon Langford, and The Walkmen.

Singer-guitarist Peter Case, a driving force in two of power pop’s essential bands, The Nerves and The Plimsouls, has a solo gig at FitzGerald’s on Berwyn next Thursday night.

Chicago’s vintage and authentic psychedelic rockers The Luck Of Even Hall have a record release party for their latest aural adventure, Victoria Moon, at Mayne Stage on September 20th.

Navy Pier plays host to 125 art galleries from around the world September 19th–22nd when EXPO CHGO - The International Exposition Of Contemporary And Modern Art returns. A one-day ticket is $20, a three-day pass is $30.

There’s a bunch of familiar names on the Arcada’s half-page ad in the Illinois Entertainer this month. The Yardbirds are coming to the St. Charles venue on September 13th, with Led Zeppelin tribute band Kashmir as their opening act; Genesis Revisited with Steve Hackett will play on September 20th and 21st; Burton Cummings of The Guess Who shares a double bill with The Zombies (including Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent) on September 27th, and former Hollies member Terry Sylvester will be performing with singer John Ford Coley (from the duo England Dan And John Ford Coley) on October 11th. Other acts coming up at the Arcada include The Bodeans, UFO, Los Lonely Boys, America, Don McLean and Judy Collins, and Debbie Reynolds.

Speaking of Terry Sylvester, I had an opportunity to meet him when he was a guest at The Fest For Beatles Fans a few years back. We talked about the Hollies concert I saw at The Auditorium in Chicago back in 1972, around the time “Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress” was a hit. Lead vocalist Allan Clarke was off pursuing a solo career at the time, and Sylvester, along with Swedish recruit Mikael Rickfors, took over the lead singing chores. Even without Clarke and Graham Nash, who had departed in 1968, it was a good concert. At The Fest For Beatles Fans, Sylvester performed about three songs, as part of a show by the superb Beatles tribute band Liverpool. It would be interesting to see him do an entire concert.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Fans of 1980s cutting edge rock would do well to check out this third effort from Dot Dash. The Washington, D.C. band continues to channel Wire Train and The Church via shimmering guitars and the evocative vocals of singer-guitarist Terry Banks. The intriguing lyrics aren’t always easy to interpret, but there’s a running theme of lost opportunities on Half-Remembered Dream.

The high-speed “Here’s To The Ghosts Of The Past” takes an acerbic swipe at nostalgia, and there’s a sense of urgency behind the images of falling and feeling lost on “11th Hour.” “Hands Of Time,” which sports one of the most gorgeous melodies this group has ever created, has Banks singing, “What’s gone is gone and what’s done is done.” The harder hitting songs, like “Bloom/Decay” and “A Light In The Distance” are fueled by Danny Ingram’s drumming and hark back to the more punk approach Dot Dash took on its full-length debut, Spark>Flame>Ember>Ash.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

It’s no secret that WXRT air personality Terri Hemmert is an avid Beatles fan. She regularly works their songs into her 10:00 AM-1:00 PM shift; hosts the weekly program, Breakfast With The Beatles; and serves as Official MC when Fest For Beatles Fans comes to Chicago each year. Then there was the matter of her being invited to the White House when Paul McCartney received the Library Of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Clearly, she’s had a lot on her plate when it comes to her favorite band.

Hemmert has interviewed McCartney a few times over the years, but when he called to chat about his upcoming release, New and the now-available title track single, it still seemed to be a thrill for her. Before playing the first part of the interview this past Sunday on Breakfast, Hemmert told listeners that if the day ever comes when it’s ho-hum to talk to a Beatle, she should be put out to pasture. McCartney described using several producers for the album; how he’s able to continually renew himself by working on side projects; and that it’s exciting to see younger generations getting into his music.

Afterward, when Hemmert played “New,” it was easy to see how she would enjoy sharing the song with her audience. Produced by the legendary George Martin’s son Giles, it harks back to McCartney’s Beatles output in the mid-1960s, with its infectious melody and energetic vocals. “New” is a celebration of taking chances, even though McCartney notes that he can’t guarantee the results. Considering his continued success, particularly in recent years, we might all want to dabble in some risk taking.

Monday, September 2, 2013

To paraphrase that most interesting man from the Dos Equis commercials, I don’t always see seven music acts within 24 hours, but when I do, I write about it on Broken Hearted Toy. Here’s a brief rundown on how I spent the first half of the Labor Day weekend.

Tributosaurus was in the midst of “Carry On” from the Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young LP, Deja Vu, when my wife Pam and I arrived at the Taste Of Polonia festival at the Copernicus Center in Jefferson Park on Friday night. A serious thunderstorm passing through the area had threatened to cancel the well-known cover band’s CSN and Y homage. There were at least nine musicians onstage, with the front four taking turns on lead vocals. Joining forces, they perfectly captured those Crosby, Stills and Nash harmonies on “Helplessly Hoping,” “Teach Your Children,” and “Guinnevere.”

Along with the hits “Southern Cross” and “Just A Song Before I Go,” the band covered deep tracks like “Almost Cut My Hair” and “Deja Vu,” while making the occasional side trip into Neil Young solo territory for songs like “Alabama.” Tributosaurus has stated they love covering Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young; it would be fun to see them do a show of Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and Hollies covers.

On Saturday afternoon, I dropped by the Remix Chicago street festival on Milwaukee Avenue and caught sets by Secret Colours, who looked younger than I had imagined from listening to the swirling, psychedelic rock on their CDs; former Treaty Of Paris vocalist-guitarist Daniel Wade, whose guitar-driven songs sounded like they could notch some significant time on the current charts; and the band Fletcher, who mixed soaring guitars within atmospheric arrangements. It was a kick to finally see Archie Powell and The Exports, whose 2012 satirical masterpiece, Great Ideas In Action, came in a close second on the BHT list of the year’s best releases. The band ripped through cuts from the CD, like “Metronome,” “Crazy Pills,” and “Shooting Spree.”

From there, I took the blue line up to The Abbey Pub, where Ellis Clark and Phil Angotti were headlining an evening of live music sponsored by CAUdog Records. Singer-acoustic guitarist Liz Chidester, a recent transplant from Virginia, got things underway with an engaging set of original tunes and a cover of George Gershwin’s “Summertime.” Chidester has a classic folk singer delivery, but her vocals also have a bluesy playfulness at times. Her performance at The Abbey Pub bodes well for a debut release coming out within the next month.

Clark and Angotti, backed by drummer Dr. Brad and bassist Charlie Short, opened with a faithful take on The Bee Gees’ “New York Mining Disaster 1941,” and then alternated between original songs from each of their solo careers. The set included Clark’s “All Told” and Angotti’s “Out Of Thin Air,” from their new releases, LP Number One and Life And Rhymes, respectively. They tossed in a cover of the Emmitt Rhodes chestnut, “Fresh As A Daisy,” and closed with a rousing take on The Beatles’ “Hey Bulldog.”

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About This Blog

Broken Hearted Toy is an eclectic celebration of creativity, with over 1,700 posts since 2009.

It's based in Chicago and covers power pop, garage, cutting-edge, and 1960s rock; along with occasional bits on art; literature; and theatre.

Top of the hill is a nice place to be at. - - - "Elevated Observations" by The Hollies.

Check out some of my other creative endeavors.

Sunday Morning Coffee With Jeff is a weekly Internet show created by and starring Jeff Kelley. It mostly consists of comedy bits and obscure 1960s garage rock set to vintage TV and film clips but also spotlights entertainment events around Illinois.

Over the past few years, my wife Pam and I created a handful of series (each episode was about two minutes long) that were shown on Sunday Morning Coffee With Jeff. They included Manchester Gallery (see description below); Old Days, which I hosted in the persona of a cranky old man named Fritz Willoughby; Roving Reporter, where I played the clueless title character; What's With Terry?, a performance arts program; and Hanging With The Hollies, a takeoff on Breakfast With The Beatles.

I've also worked with Kelley and contributors Willy Deal and David Metzger on comedy clips. Jeff just kicked off a new season of Sunday Morning Coffee With Jeff, with some cool graphics to go with his new regular features. Willy Deal is onboard, and I'm hoping to join them for some creative endeavors in the near future.

I'm particularly proud of this 21-episode comedy series Pam and I created for Sunday Morning Coffee With Jeff. Each installment was a few minutes long, and featured me portraying Terrence, the curator of a pop culture museum.

My original concept was to make up funny descriptions for some of the rock memorabilia I've collected, but it soon morphed into a sit-com format where my character's inept and devious ways constantly got him into trouble. The two running themes that fueled the action concerned a purloined Beatles button, and the scrambled eggs Paul McCartney was eating when he got the inspiration to compose "Yesterday."

I'm currently exploring options for pitching my Manchester Gallery web-based series to a media company that could help it reach a much larger audience.

This Chicago-based magazine has been covering rock music for close to 40 years, and has a readership of 165,000. I started contributing in 1987 and have written several feature stories and far too many album reviews to count. The Illinois Entertainer can also be found in an online edition.

After starting Broken Hearted Toy a few years back, I asked I.E.'s editor and publisher if I could post material that I had previously written for their publication, and they graciously granted me permission to do so.

Chicago Art Machine was a web-based publishing company run by Editor-in-Chief, Kathryn Born, and Managing Editor, Robin Dluzen, that included Chicago Art Magazine, Chicago DIY Film,Chicago Performance And Trailers, and TINC. Most of my submissions appeared in Chicago DIY Film and Chicago Performance And Trailers, although I contributed to all the online Chicago Art Machine publications.

Unfortunately, Chicago Art Machine has folded. I greatly enjoyed working with Kathryn and Robin, and I'm glad to see they've gone on to other projects in the arts and journalism. I hope to work with them again at some point in the future.

I was a writer and performer with this local comedy group from 1989 to 2009. Amusical parody I wrote about Arthur Andersen's Enron crisis was covered by the Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Reader, and other publications.

Famous In The Future continues to perform in the Chicago area, and has appeared at every one of the Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins theatre festivals that are held each August at the Mary-Arrchie Theatre. Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins will celebrate its 25th Anniversary in August, 2013.

Famous In The Future has a musical side project called The Rut, which occasionally plays at concert events organized by whitewolfsonicprincess, a band that's an offshoot of Black Forest Theatre.

I'm an active member of SCBWI, (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) and have written two Middle Grade fantasy novels that I'm shopping to literary agents. I've finished a mystery/satiric novel that takes place amidst Chicago's alternative music scene in the mid-1980s.

Broken Hearted Toy

The blog title comes from the line, "I'm the brokenhearted toy you play with" in the song "I Can't Let Go" by The Hollies. One of the great original British Invasion bands, The Hollies continue to have an immense influence on power pop bands to this day, and have finally been inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Here is a video of "I Can't Let Go" being performed in 1966.